Jim Boeheim says he's not Joe Paterno. He shouldn't be treated like the defrocked leader of Penn State.

He's right, and he's wrong.

Syracuse's basketball coach shouldn't be fired for his role in sports' latest sex scandal. He should be sent to Clue School when it comes to the taboo topic of pedophilia and how to react to it.

Boeheim had his chance Tuesday night, following Syracuse's win over Eastern Michigan. It was his first appearance before the media since calls started ringing for his head after his fiery defense of assistant coach Bernie Fine.

Boeheim should have poured on the contrition. Even if he didn't mean it, a somber tone would have shown he fully appreciates the damage his words have done to himself and his school.

Instead, he read a prepared statement. Nowhere in the 54 words did the term “I'm sorry” appear. It also didn't come up in the 18-minute Q&A that followed.

Boeheim stood by the statement he released Sunday. In that one, he apologized for calling Fine's accusers money-grubbing liars. He said he hoped his damnation of alleged victims wouldn't keep others from coming forward.

“I deeply regret any statements I made that might have inhibited that from occurring,” the statement said, “or been insensitive to victims of abuse.”

Boeheim was asked to expound on that Tuesday night.

“I supported a friend,” he said. “I think it's important what I did. I'm proud I did that.”

I understand his initial defense of Fine. The investigation was brought to you by ESPN, not a grand jury. There was no sworn testimony accusing Fine of molesting ball boys decades ago.

Fine hadn't been charged, much less perp-walked to jail like Jerry Sandusky. All Boeheim supposedly knew was his friend of almost 50 years was being accused of horrible acts, and he jumped to Fine's defense.

He jumped way too hard. That became obvious when Syracuse fired Fine on Sunday after ESPN released a taped conversation between Fine's wife and one of the alleged victims, Bobby Davis.

In it, Laurie Fine acknowledges her husband might have molested children. She also discussed her own affair with Davis. None of this proves the accusations against Fine, but it's apparent there was some sick stuff going on around Syracuse.

The key difference is that unlike Paterno, there is no evidence Boeheim knew anything. There's no doubt Paterno knew about Sandusky's alleged activity. Unless the investigation uncovers that kind of dirt, Boeheim can safely claim he's no Paterno. Boeheim said he hadn't listened to the tape between Fine's wife and Davis. It echoed Paterno, who didn't want to know more about what he suspected.

From Boeheim's words Tuesday night, you'd think he was just another employee serving for the pleasure of his superiors at Syracuse U. He said he's not bigger than the program, which is what Paterno used to claim.

Everybody knew better. That became obvious when students rioted in his defense.

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On Tuesday, the Syracuse faithful merely greeted Boeheim with a standing ovation. Well, there was a Catholic priest outside the Carrier Dome calling for Boeheim to be fired.

It was the Rev. Robert Hoatson, who founded an advocacy group called Road to Recovery. Hoatson obviously didn't get into the postgame press conference, where university employees applauded their coach.

Except for brief periods of bad basketball, Boeheim has enjoyed such unwavering support for decades. Nobody questions his judgment. Criticism is easily dismissed.

You can see how a person might lose touch. How they would be so quick to dismiss anything that challenged their opinion.

Boeheim's view of his longtime assistant was challenged, and he lashed out. But by Tuesday night, he'd had plenty of time to digest the situation.

It called for over-the-top remorse. A good public relations manager would have had Boeheim announce he was joining forces with a group like Road to Recovery.

He could have said he's not convicting his old friend. But he's realized society still doesn't know how to handle accusations of pedophilia.

Instead, Boeheim came off like he doesn't understand his role in this mess.